The Department of Social and Health Services’ vision of improving coordinated discharge planning and services for Special Commitment Center residents includes treating them in smaller step-down facilities. Secure community transition facilities offer residents supportive environments that connect them to community treatment, provide life skills training/support, and offer access to transition programs in the community.
SCC currently operates two SCTFs, one at McNeil Island with 24 beds, and the second in King County with 12 beds. DSHS analysis found a need for additional beds to meet the growing need of residents who are progressing through treatment and ordered by the courts to a less-restrictive alternative. The 2021 legislature provided funding for siting and land acquisition for a future SCTF in Snohomish County. This project aims to add capacity for 10 to 24 beds in this new SCTF.
As of June 2026, this project has been put on hold.
Our residents
Our mission is to treat SCC residents who have progressed in their treatment and are court-ordered to a less-restrictive alternative where they begin transitioning into the community. SCC residents are sexually violent predators who have been released from incarceration and subsequently civilly committed for treatment under RCW 71.09. SCTFs serve as step-down facilities between the SCC and community placements.
SCC and SCTF residents are people who have completed their prison sentences, and are being held civilly to provide them with additional behavioral health treatment while addressing public safety requirements. Residents are entitled to an annual evaluation to determine if they still meet criteria for commitment and if a less-restrictive alternative is in their best interest, and if conditions can be imposed that adequately protect the community (RCW 71.09.090).
Our program
The SCTFs build on treatment residents received in the SCC’s total confinement facility to include sex offender treatment and other skills to be safe and successful members of our community.
Services include:
- treatment
- assistance with activities of daily living/independent living skills
- budgeting education
- employment readiness
- communication skills education
- healthy lifestyle education
Transitioning SCC residents to SCTFs allows them to be slowly reintroduced into the community, with direct support and oversight from DSHS staff, community treatment providers, and corrections specialists to keep community safety at the forefront of the reintegration process.
SCC residents are best prepared for successful community transition and reentry when engaged in comprehensive rehabilitative services. Connecting residents to treatment, habilitation and transition programs increases hope and a greater likelihood of achieving a successful and safe transition to the community.
Security
In designing and operating an SCTF, the SCC prioritizes safety of residents, staff, and the surrounding community. The SCTFs are locked at all times and staffed 24/7 by residential rehabilitation counselors. In addition, residents may only leave the SCTF on escorted trips along pre-planned routes, and they are subject to GPS monitoring at all times.
All staff are responsible for and trained to maintain the safety and security of the facilities. Staff complete regular checks of facilities to include resident count, lock checks, and inventories.
Per RCW 71.09.295, SCTFs are required to have a commercial-grade security system complete with tamper-proof switches and backup power supply. SCTFs use a CCTV camera system with audio capabilities. Doors use electronic lock mechanisms and monitoring is centralized to manned stations within the facilities.
The building design for an SCTF includes:
- Commercial-grade security panel with tamper-proof switches and locks to prevent unauthorized access
- Emergency electricity supply with battery backup and a generator
- Panic devices for all staff
- Perimeter fencing
- Keycard controlled entry points
- Closed circuit camera monitoring